“When you love yourself, your external world starts to shift in magical ways.” This is Lameez Patel’s view on positively embracing self-love.
Committed to shifting people from surviving to thriving, Durban North mom of two, and woman of wellness, Lameez Patel is intentional on her mission to help people access a wide range of simple tools, that are designed to help them find their way back to balance and harmony. As a yoga and Heal your Life teacher, she’s consistently been a beacon of light whose teachings – on positive thinking, self-care and the transformative power of our thoughts – have touched many lives.
Now, she’s taken things a step further by consciously creating a diary, My Balanced life – Not Just Another Diary, that serves as a love letter to the reader, inviting you to get curious and explore what works for you, and helps you as an individual to stay balanced in your life.
“This diary is my labour of love and my contribution to the world. It’s also so much more than just a diary,” says Lameez, who has always loved writing things down.
“Growing up I poured my heart into daily ‘Dear Diary’ entries, which I hid in a red box under my bed. I say ‘hid’ because it mostly included entries about how fabulous I looked in neon, ways I was going to get Madonna to make me her backup singer, and reasons why my super cute neighbour was definitely THE ONE. I was just a girl.”
As she started adulting, Lameez says her diary morphed into something that was only about school meetings, dentist and doctor appointments, grocery lists and scribbles to call a plumber – grown up stuff.
“The inspiration to write my diary was born of two things. I wanted to leave a legacy for my children. I wanted them to always have something they could refer to that would offer them simple tools to create peace for themselves – even when I am not around them and they are in the world on their own. I also kept a gratitude journal which was a separate book to my diary.”
As someone who feels deeply, Lameez says with this blessing, came the need to people-please and the feeling of wanting-to-fix, rescue and control everything and everyone around her.
“I was constantly trying to make sense of the things I was experiencing and I was exhausted from trying to be everything to everyone, and I was on a mission to try and create ease in my life. I wanted one book that was beautiful to look at, provided space to remind me of my daily commitments, jot notes to myself and express gratitude for the glimmer moments experienced in my day. I wanted it to feed my soul and my senses. I couldn’t find a book or diary to fill this need, so I decided to create one myself.”
Together with talented local artist, Terry Angelos, who understood her vision from the get-go, Lameez put together a diary for 2025 that plants seeds for deeper thought while being conscious of the environment, and gives the reader a feast for the eyes, mind, body and soul.
The cover is printed on a soft touch linen textured fabric, made from recycled fabric and plastic waste, and each month has a new theme and opens with a whimsical, exquisite, related piece of hand painted art.
“As we journey through the year, the diary covers foundational tools – love, money, play, exercise, food and more. And it offers gentle habits that we can embrace to help us find our way back to balance and harmony,” says Lameez, who admits to being very curious by nature and that in creating this diary, she found herself on a path of self-discovery and personal growth.
“As I continued my journey I started noticing changes – I was reacting less and responding more. I felt more relaxed and grounded,” says Lameez, adding that the habits she’s collated in her diary are tools that she used personally to move herself from feeling stuck and helpless, to feeling empowered and in control of her own life.
“I am also a natural sharer, so when I started seeing the benefit in my own life I wanted to share my joy with others. This led me to studying with Heal Your Life South Africa, and I now work to teach people about self-love – what it really is and how to work on making it part of your lifestyle.”
As a Muslim, Lameez says that her faith and trust in her Creator are paramount to creating harmony in her life and that her diary process progressed and unfolded intuitively.
“It felt like I was divinely guided the entire way,” says Lameez, adding that the diary appeals to everyone – regardless of age, gender or religion – and especially to people who enjoy journaling – a daily gratitude practice – as well as type A personalities who love being organised and people who work in a high stress environment.
“My message via the diary is a simple one – cultivate kindness, grace and compassion to ourselves and others. These are all values I have learnt as a child and now teach to my own children.”
When she’s not journaling or guiding people on a new path to wellness, or wrapping books in the company of her silent companion, her cat, Hurley Joon, Lameez’ favourite way to unwind is attending an aqua jogging class, walking around her neighbourhood or sipping a cup of rooibos tea in her garden and marvelling at her view, which she describes is like a moving postcard.
“Life is far more doable when we start to recognise that we are responsible for our lives and that we have the power to choose differently over and over again.So, here’s to you believing in you! You are wonderful and you are doing better than you think.”
ABOUT THE BOOK
My Balanced life – Not Just Another Diary makes for a great gift for teacher appreciation, Christmas, birthdays or anyone you want to send some love to. It costs R500, excluding courier fees, and is available directly from Lameez via Whatsapp on 064 540 8855, direct message on her Instagram page @mybalancedlife365 or by e-mail at lameez@mybalancedlife.co.za. It is also stocked at Flourish Flower Studio at The Mushroom Farm in Hillcrest and Wanderlust Collectables in Umhlanga.
Lameez’ top five habits to live a balanced life
Start each day intentionally The world pulls us in different directions almost as soon as we wake up. Our minds rush into thoughts of all we need to do, or we go straight to our phones and mindlessly scroll. I would like to invite readers to start the day with a prayer or listing out loud three things they are grateful for or lighting a candle.
Movement Stretch or move your body for a minimum of 20 minutes each day. Choose a medium you enjoy – walking, running, Pilates, stretching, swimming, tai chi – the options are endless.
Pause for a hug Hug someone or pause for a moment during the day and place your hand over your heart and ask yourself … ‘How do I feel?’
Let the fresh air in Open windows in your home to let fresh air in before you reach for tea or coffee.
Celebrate your wins No matter how small.
